A Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, was forced to return to its origin airport on Friday after a passenger window reportedly dislodged mid-flight, leading to a dramatic incident where a man was almost pulled from the aircraft. Witnesses described a chaotic scene after a loud bang was heard, followed by the cabin depressurising and oxygen masks deploying.
The 61-year-old Serbian passenger was allegedly pulled through the broken window up to his shoulders, with his head, neck, and shoulders protruding outside the plane. His wife is credited with holding him down for approximately five minutes to prevent him from falling out. Other passengers quickly came to assist, eventually managing to pull him back into the cabin.
Following the incident, the pilot immediately turned the aircraft back towards Thessaloniki. Upon landing, the passenger was promptly taken to hospital by ambulance. While he was conscious, reports indicate he was in a state of shock and sustained friction burns. Three other individuals were also taken to hospital for precautionary checks.
Ryanair confirmed that flight FR5542 returned to Thessaloniki shortly after take-off on Friday morning, 10 July 2026, due to a passenger window dislodging inflight. The airline stated that the aircraft landed normally and that one passenger requested and received medical assistance. To minimise disruption, a replacement aircraft was arranged to transport the remaining passengers to Memmingen.
Investigations into the precise cause of the window dislodgement are expected to follow. While one Greek media outlet cited unnamed sources suggesting an engine malfunction, Ryanair has not commented on this specific claim. The incident highlights the critical importance of aircraft maintenance and passenger safety protocols.